White House defends Trump’s remarks about Iran and California cities
publishers 93articles 104first reported 6 Oct, 00:21 UTCdeveloping since 6 Oct · 11 editions
The White House defended President Donald Trump after remarks at a Nebraska rally about Iran potentially “taking out” Los Angeles and San Diego drew criticism from Democratic officials and at least one Republican candidate.
While arguing that higher fuel and other prices linked to the Iran war were “a small price to pay for keeping the world safe” and the United States safe, Trump said: “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” He then repeated that the cost was small and predicted the conflict would end soon.
The wording prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to call Trump “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said a president’s role was to protect the country, “not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city was “not collateral damage” or expendable. Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate near San Diego, said he “vehemently” disagreed with Trump and that the commander in chief’s first responsibility was protecting Americans.
White House communications director Steven Cheung rejected the characterization that Trump had encouraged an attack. Cheung said Trump was arguing that U.S. cities would have faced danger if Iran had acquired nuclear weapons. The White House Rapid Response account likewise said the United States was fighting to prevent Iran from gaining the ability to strike Los Angeles or San Diego.
Trump did not explicitly mention nuclear weapons in the quoted portion of his rally remarks, leaving his phrasing open to conflicting interpretations.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 36 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 93
- Source articles
- 104
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 36 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →